What Is Abilify?

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002, Abilify (aripiprazole) is a top-selling drug prescribed to treat depression and symptoms of psychotic conditions, including schizophrenia and manic depression. The drug is classified as an atypical antipsychotic, a class that also includes Risperdal, Seroquel, and Zyprexa.

Although it was not FDA approved for use in children with varying disorders or elderly dementia patients, the drug was found to be routinely marketed to those demographics. With the marketing partnership of Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Bristol-Myers Squibb actively deceiving their consumers, lawsuits and agency reports become commonplace regarding it.

Patients suffering from schizophrenia under the age of 13, from bipolar disorder under the age of 10, and from Tourette’s under the age of 6 have been most heavily effected by Abilify prescriptions when observing use on children. Although no information existed regarding the safety or efficacy of the drug in consumers of the aforementioned age ranges, the drug was still pushed on consumers as an effective medical solution to their problems.

Elderly consumers who took the drug to combat symptoms of dementia were perhaps the most effected of all demographics who suffered Abilify-related complications. As drug use continued, it was discovered that use of it to combat dementia actually increased the risk of death for those consumers.

How To File An Abilify Compulsive Behavior Lawsuit?

Why Am I Being Prescribed Abilify?

Abilify oral tablets were designed and approved to be used to treat the following disorders in adult patients:

Schizophrenia

Bipolar 1 Disorder

Major Depressive Disorder

Autism Disorder

Tourette’s Disorder

Prescribed far less than the oral tablet form, an Abilify injection prescription is utilized to specifically treat agitation associated with bipolar mania or schizophrenia.

What Are Serious Side Effects Of Abilify?

Because it targets functions associated with the brain, it has the potential to trigger a wide variety of serious side effects that can range from minor inconveniences to debilitating conditions.

What Are Other Common Side Effects Of Abilify?

While serious side effects are exceptionally rare in users, there is a multitude of side effects that rarely develop into deadly conditions but are dangerous to an individuals health nonetheless.

These common side effects can include:

Nausea

Dizziness

Vomiting

Anxiety

Constipation

Insomnia

Headache

Restlessness

Blurred Vision

Akathisia

While the most commonly reported, these side effects and the previously detailed serious conditions do not constitute all of the possible health risks posed by the drug. To gain a full understanding of the health risks posed to individuals taking it, a healthcare provider or medical professional must be contacted.

While the drug label warns consumers of a compulsive gambling risk, there is no warning on the product indicating that the compulsive behavior risks may range from binge eating to sexual compulsion and various other impulses.

However, since an FDA drug safety communication was released on May 3, 2016 consumers now at least have the ability to learn about the drug’s dangerous compulsive behavior side effects. These warnings came exceptional late for many consumers though, especially those who already suffered from Abilify-related compulsive behavior unaware that their prescription was the issue.

Perhaps most concerning about the drug and the risk of developing a destructive compulsive behavior is that other major countries had been warning their consumers for years prior to the U.S. issuing their first warning.

While the FDA was fielding reports of compulsive behaviors and not issuing warnings, in 2012 the European Medicines Agency issued an announcement stating that Abilify users and prescribing professionals must be warned of the risks associated with the drug. Health Canada followed behind with their own in announcement in 2015 regarding compulsive gambling and hypersexuality.

Does Abilify Cause Compulsive Gambling?

With the FDA now requiring that it be labeled with a compulsive gambling warning, following suit with European and Canadian agencies, there is little debate as to whether the drug serves as a direct trigger for compulsive gambling.

Observational studies have also worked to prove that the relationship between the drug and compulsive gambling is causative rather than correlative. Consumers with no prior history of gambling may suddenly develop a need to compulsively gamble, in almost all cases the gambling compulsion dissipates immediately once drug use has halted.

Does Abilify Cause Compulsive Spending?

It causes compulsive spending in much of the same fashion as gambling, although in most records it is not as prominent. Formal FDA acknowledgement of a compulsive gambling link occurred in the May 2015 safety communication.

This communication stated that “these behaviors behaviors can affect anyone who is taking the medicine.” This blanket warning has led to some consumers and professionals to reconsider what constitutes an appropriate use of Abilify.

Does Abilify Cause Compulsive Eating?

The May 2016 FDA safety communication warned the public of compulsive eating in the same risk group as compulsive spending. Those who develop Abilify-related compulsive eating frequently find themselves quickly gaining a life-altering amount of weight.

Just as gambling and spending compulsions quickly dissipate once use has been halted, so too does compulsive eating.

Does Abilify Cause Stealing?

In some cases, when Abilify causes behaviors like compulsive spending, it can also lead to stealing.

Stealing is one of the problems that can arise when use of Abilify impairs impulse control. For most patients, they have no history of compulsive behaviors or problems with stealing prior to taking the drug.

Does Abilify Cause Hypersexuality?

Impulse control problems caused by use of Abilify can also lead to hypersexuality in some patients.

Numerous studies have linked Abilify to hypersexuality, but there remains no warning on the product of this complication.

What Legal Action Has Been Taken Against Abilify?

Abilify manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb has been subjected to multiple major lawsuits in the last decade with one of the most significant settlement totals coming from a case brought against them by the U.S. Justice Department on the grounds of improperly marketing the drug.

It was alleged that from 2000-2003, Bristol-Myers Squibb provided medical professionals with illegal payments to promote the prescription of the drug to children for non-FDA approved uses.

More recently, dozens of former users have filed lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb on grounds that the company was neglectful in testing for or notifying the public of the compulsive behavior risks associated with the drug. As of June 2016, all cases have been frozen until a the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) determines whether all Ability compulsive behavior cases will be consolidated under one multidistrict litigation entity.

This does not prevent victims from filing lawsuits though, in fact, it is recommended that all victims pursue the appropriate legal action as soon as possible to ensure they become eligible for all future settlement offers.

Can I File An Abilify Lawsuit?

Our dangerous drug lawyers can help if you or someone you care has suffered from the development of a destructive compulsive behavior due to Abilify use. Compulsive behaviors could include:

Compulsive gambling

Compulsive spending

Compulsive eating, excessive weight gain

Hypersexuality

Stealing

If you developed any of the above compulsive behaviors after taking Abilify, and had no prior history of such behavior, you could have a case against the manufacturer. If you do have a history of compulsive behaviors, but taking Abilify intensified such actions, you may also have a case.

In most cases, the uncontrollable urges usually stop within days or weeks of discontinuing the use of Abilify. If you are still taking the drug, we can still evaluate your case.

The information on this site is ATTORNEY ADVERTISING by Attorney Lawrence J. Buckfire of the Buckfire Law Firm. Office address is 29000 Inkster Road, Suite 150, Southfield, MI 48034 and telephone number is (866) 280-4722.